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Eating Grasshoppers: No Antennae Left Behind

Posted by ayersian , December 29, 2009 20:38

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In Jane & Michael Stern’s 500 Things to Eat book, the entry for Guelaguetza in Los Angeles added a postscript for “really adventurous eaters”: if you try the roasted grasshoppers, let us know! We took that as a triple dog dare à la 1983’s A Christmas Story, and be it known that said insects are scrumdiddilyumptious. We feasted on the house specialty, chapulines, sprinkled atop a massive clayuda (a sort of tortilla pizza), while sipping their famous horchata. Although we expected just a few arthropods to munch, we were flabbergasted to find nearly 200 interspersed with chorizo, pork, and Oaxacan string cheese. Once we got over the fact that we were eating insects, the grasshoppers’ crunch and garlicky tang were truly fantastic. Guelaguetza has two L.A. locations, on West Olympic Boulevard and on West Eighth Street.

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Comments

12/29/2009 8:51:56 PM #

I think it's official; you can now go to the Chitlin' Strut in Salley.

Nancypalooza |

12/29/2009 9:33:35 PM #

I am glad you enjoyed them. It was about 20 or 25 years ago that I tried a fried grasshopper (we sold the canned fried ones in our store). I will agree the crunch was good (a lot like eating shrimp tails), but the taste was the same as the odor of the brown "tobacco juice" that a live grasshopper spits out when you pick it up, not a good flavor as far as I am concerned. Perhaps the garlic on your "pizza" masked or altered this flavor enough so you didn't notice it.

6star |

12/29/2009 9:54:38 PM #

Time for you two to try out for Survivor!

Did you also try the three moles? Yummy!

PS... Ewwwwww

Would you order them again just because you liked them?

Marlene |

12/29/2009 11:47:19 PM #

A friend of mine used to eat grasshoppers during recess. Much to the delight of fellow classmates, he'd catch them, rip their legs off (and discard cause they were "furry" and tickled) and chew up and swallow the body. He said they were very tasty, but never managed to get anyone else to try them.

Cliff |

12/30/2009 9:50:01 AM #

And I thought it was amazing that Chris was telling us about eating head cheese this summer. I think you two have raised the bar for adventurous eating (but please, stay away from the chittlins!).

Buffalo Tarheel |

12/30/2009 9:07:09 PM #

I've always been an adventurous eater, and had the opportunity to try dry roasted grasshoppers once.. crunchy, but the legs did indeed tickle my throat... my daughter bought me some "larvets" this year from a local candy shop. They are roasted mealy worms in various flavors and quite good.. the "flavoring" doesn't overpower their natural taste which is very similar to pumpkin seeds.. I still have some candied ants waiting in my stocking... I like bugs as long as they aren't squishy..

Jenne |

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